Bell UH-1E accident near North Bend, Oregon, August 4, 1988
On August 4, 1988 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Bell UH-1E (helicopter), registered N151LC, was substantially damaged in an accident near North Bend, Oregon. It was an other work-use flight under external-load helicopter rules (Part 133). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 4, 1988 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- North Bend, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell UH-1E · all UH-1Es on the register
- Registration
- N151LC · registry record · serial 151875
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DRG A LOGGING OPN, THE PLT NOTED AN APPARENT TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION. AN AUTOROTATIVE LANDING WAS MADE ON UNPREPARED TERRAIN & THE HELICOPTER WAS DAMAGED. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE INPUT GEAR IN THE 42 DEG GEARBOX HAD FAILED FROM FATIGUE. N151LC WAS A MILITARY SURPLUS HELICOPTER. THE GEARBOX HAD BEEN OVERHAULED ON 6/15/87. THE OPERATOR'S RECORDS SHOWED IT HAD BEEN IN SERVICE FOR 373 HRS SINCE OVERHAUL.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,805 hours in all; 1,220 in this make and model; 86 in the last 90 days; 68 in the last 30 days; 7,612 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,288 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, August 2, 1988; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming T53-L-13B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.